Backwards underwear...

I am so excited that Tucker has decided to potty-train!!! All on his own, on Easter Sunday morning, he told me he had to go... and hasn't looked back! What a BIG boy!! The strange thing about this is the way he prefers to wear underwear.... backwards. I can't convince him that the big character (Thomas the train, Wall-E, Batman, etc.) goes on the back and the "little door" goes up front! Several times this week he has ran passed me with his little behind squishing out of his underwear because the "little side" was to the back! Yes, it's cute... but I'm sure it's uncomfortable. But Tucker stands his ground... and I'm not sure I'll ever convince him otherwise!

I guess this is just another life lesson that I have learned since I became a mother. In my opinion, I may have the best way (like wearing underwear correctly) but, I don't have the only way (apparently Tucker prefers to look down and see Batman smiling back at him). We all have different opinions. What works for you, doesn't necessarily work for me. And its been really wonderful to notice that our differences is what makes life so interesting. This realization has helped me to be less judgemental. Most people just do the very best they can. It's not the way I roll... but they really are trying! So today, I thank God for all the color and spice He adds to this life... and for my Tucker who really knows how to shake things up in the Garner house!!

Really... I had no Idea!

Eighteen years ago, when I was in 3rd grade, Springhead Elementary School held a "Career Day". All the students were supposed to dress up as what they aspired to be when they "grew up". There were teachers, veterinarians, doctors, lawyers, football players, dancers, and then there was me. I wore my grandmother's housecoat and bedroom slippers. Curlers were dangling from my powder white stringy hair. I pushed a doll strollers full of babies and carried a diaper bag. I was dressed up as a Mommy. Today, all these years later, Motherhood is still my dream... but now I'm living it!

Five years ago I was at the drive-thru at Suntrust Bank making a deposit... which was a very routine thing in my week. I had no idea that my life was about to dramatically change. I was working as a hairdresser at the time and when I got back to my salon I received a phone call. It was a teller from the bank, who was also a customer, asking me if she could give my phone number to one of her co-workers, James. Yes was the unlikely answer, but that's exactly what came out my mouth! I didn't think much more of it until after work, when my cell phone rang. I answered and on the other line was the DEEPEST voice with the twangiest southern accent. Three months later in December 2005 that same deep voice said "I do" and became my husband! In June 2006 I gave birth to our first baby, a little girl, Gracie Ashlyn. Twelve months later, along came our red-headed baby boy, Tucker Dock Albert. And in September 2009 our little Ivy Belle completed our family.

I never could have imagined that my life could be so blessed. When I think about the fact that the same God that spins the world in orbit took the time to look down on me and grant me the desires of my heart, I can hardly take it all in.